50-Year History of the ITU Association of Japan
July 28, 2021

[1971 – 1983]
Year

The ITU Association of Japan• The ITU Association of Japan founded• Office established in Minato Ward, Tokyo• Touki HACHIFUJI assumes Presidency• ITU Club established• First issue of “International Telecommunication
Union and Japan”• First issue of “ITU Study”

1971
1971 “International Telecommunication Unionand Japan” first issue

International Telecommunication Union(ITU)
In bold: E vents for which ITU-AJ supported theJapanese Secretariat, or an exhibition.

• WARC-71 (Geneva)• World Telecom 71 (Geneva)＊ First event

1971 ITU-AJ Office established• Seminars on CCITT (currently ITU-T) started• Seminars on ITU Constitution started (until 1973)• Seminars on Broadcast Satellite started(until 2000)• Seminars on Planning Committee started (until1986)• Seminar s on Agre ement relating to theInternational telecommunications satelliteorganization "INTELSAT" started (until 1972)• Lecture series started (until 2000)

1971 “ ITU Study” first issue

1972
1973

• ITU-AJ Awards established• Seminars on ITU Business Practices started• Seminars on CCIR (currently ITU-R) started• CCITT 5th Plenary Assembly (Geneva)• First ITU-AJ Awards Ceremony• Donated two 8.0m × 3.6m tapestries of white plumblossoms and autumn leaves to ITU headquarters• Panel discussions started (until 1989)• PP (Malaga, Torremolinos)• Seminars on Fundamental Problem of ITU started(until 2011)• Seminars on Special Interest started (until 1986)• CCIR 13th Plenary Assembly (Geneva)

1974• World Telecom 75 (Geneva)

1975
1976

• CCITT 6th Plenary Assembly (Geneva)• ITU Chronology issued (commemorating fifthanniversary of the ITU-AJ)

1977

1973 Tapestry donation (white plum blossoms)• CCIR 14th Plenary Assembly (Kyoto)

1978
1979

• A Short History of the ITU published (commemorating 100th anniversary of Japan’s ITU member status)

1973 Tapestry donation (autumn leaves)• WARC-79 (Geneva)• World Telecom 79 (Geneva)• CCITT 7th Plenary Assembly (Geneva)

1980
1981
1982

• Japanese translation of CCITT Recommendations(Yellow Book) issued• PP (Nairobi)• CCIR 15th Plenary Assembly (Geneva)• Received the Prime Minister’s Award (in the UNWorld Communications Year)• Moved to the Watanabe Bijutsu Building in Nishishimbashi, Minato Ward, Tokyo• World Telecom 83 (Geneva)

1983

1982 CCITT Recommendations(Yellow Book) Japanese translation

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[1984 – 1991]
Year

International Telecommunication Union(ITU)

The ITU Association of Japan

In bold: E vents for which ITU-AJ supported theJapanese Secretariat, or an exhibition.

• CCIT T 8 th Plenar y Assembly (Malaga,Torremolinos)

1984• Asia Teletech Organization (ATO) established• Missing Link Report• W o r l d Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n F o r u m(Washington, DC)• WTDC (Arusha)

1985• CCIR 16th Plenary Assembly (Dubrovnik)

1986

1985 Missing Link Report1987• World Communications Development Organization—Japan (WORC-J) established• Seminars on International Cooperation started(until 2000)• World Telecom 87 (Geneva)• Seminars on ITU (special courses) started• Seminars on International cooperation promotion
started• CCITT 9th Plenary Assembly (Melbourne)• WATTC (Melbourne)

1988• ATO merges into WORC-J• WORC-J Regional Cooperation Commit tee
established• Shigeo SAWADA assumes Presidency• First issue of the quarterly, “WORC-JAPAN Journal”• WORC-JAPAN sent specialists to join technical cooperation project in Tanzania, at the request of ITU
Center for Telecommunication Development• Sent research team to CCITT 9th Plenary Assemblyand WATTC’88 (Melbourne)• Moved to the Nihon Chemical Building in Nishishimbashi, Minato Ward, Tokyo

1989• ITU-A J designated as a special non-profit
foundation• Signed a memorandum of understanding forcooperation between ITU-AJ and Korea Telecom
Technology Association (TTA)• First issue of English-language journal, “NewBreeze”

1990

1991

• Sent observers to CCIR Plenary Assembly and asurvey of telecommunication situation in Eastern
Europe, and participated in ITU 125th anniversary
ceremony, and planting of a commemorative cherrytree.
• Donated 20 sapling cherry trees and a conferencetable to ITU headquarters to mark ITU’s 125thanniversary• WORC-JAPAN issues telephone cards to assist
fundraising for ITU Center for Telecommunication
Development (CTD)• Minoru SHIOYA assumes Presidency• WORC-J International Awards established• Received Commemorative plate from the ITU forcontributions to ITU activities• “The International Telecommunication Unionand Japan” changed to the “Journal of the ITU
Association of Japan• Exhibited at World Telecom 91 Book Fair
• Published Japanese translation of “ITU of tomorrow:
Toward reform (High-level committee)” in “ITUStudy” journal

1989 “New Breeze” first issue

1989 Telecom Tokyo Forum• Telecom Tokyo Forum started• Special APT training course on optical fiber
technology started• CCIR 17th Plenary Assembly (Düsseldorf)• CCITT SG XVIII Matsuyama Meeting1990 Planting the commemo- 1990 Conference table donarative cherry treetion• Group training course in rural telecom engineering
started, on behalf of JICA

1991 Journal name changed from “The International Telecommunication Union andJapan” to the “Journal of the ITU Associationof Japan”

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• PP (Nice)＊ Makoto MIURA selected as memberof the International Frequency
Registration Board (IFRB)• ITU-COM89 (Geneva)• CCIR WP4s Tokyo meeting, WP9s Kobemeeting• World Telecom 91 (Geneva)

[1992 – 2002]
Year

International Telecommunication Union(ITU)

The ITU Association of Japan

In bold: E vents for which ITU-AJ supported theJapanese Secretariat, or an exhibition.

1992• ITU-AJ merged with WORC-J to form the New ITU
Association of Japan Inc.
• Moved to Kyodo Building, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo• APP-92 (Geneva)• WARC-92 (Malaga, Torremolinos)• WTSC-93 (Helsinki)• RA-93, WRC-93 (Geneva)

1993• Membership in ITU-T, ITU-R, and ITU-D sectors• Tetsuo MORIMOTO assumes Presidency• Received Award from Minister of Posts andTelecommunications during Japan’s Telecom Week
• Merged “ITU Study” into the “Journal of the ITU Association of Japan” publications• Exhibited publications jointly with ITU at the
24 th Union Radio -Scientif ique Internatio nale (URST) General Assembly held in Kyoto• Held series of seminars organized in India, Sri Lanka
and Indonesia, jointly with the Asia Electronics
Union (AEU)• World Telecom Visual Data Book, first issue• PP-94 (Kyoto)• WTDC-94 (Buenos Aires)• Seminars on ITU-Rstarted• Kansai TelecomSymposium held

1994
1994 PP-94 (Kyoto)• RA-95, WRC-95 (Geneva)• World Telecom 95 (Geneva)

1995

1996

• Haruki MATSUNO assumes Presidency• Started Recommendation print service as agentof ITU• Web site established

1994
World Telecom Visual
Data Book, first issue• WTSC-96 (Geneva)• WTPF-1996• RA-97, WRC-97 (Geneva)• Telecom Interactive (Geneva)

1997• Mitsuo IGARASHI assumes Presidency

1998• Donated the tapestr y of Mt. Fuji to ITU
headquarters to mark the inauguration of the new
ITU Montbrillant Building

1998 Yoshio UTSUMI
selected as SecretaryGeneral of the ITU• PP-98 (Minneapolis)＊Yoshio UTSUMI selected as SecretaryGeneral of the ITU• WTDC-98 (Valletta)• WTPF-1998• Telecom 99 + Telecom Interactive 99(Geneva)

1999

2000

• Changed name to the ITU Association of Japan, Inc.
• Masato SHINAGAWA assumes Presidency

1999 Donation of Mt. Fuji tapestry

2001• Moved to Kanda KS Building in Chiyoda Ward,Tokyo• Seminars on Digital Opportunity started (until 2003)• Seminars on ITU Business started• WTPF-01• Seminars on International Conference Practicestarted• WTDC-02 (Istanbul)• PP-02 (Marrakesh)

2002• Amateur Radio Station, 8J1ITU established,commemorating World Telecommunication andInformation Society Day• Signed a memorandum of understanding forcooperation between ITU-AJ and the United States
ITU Association (USITUA)• Signed a memorandum of understanding forcooperation between ITU-AJ and the Arthur C.
Clarke Institute of Modern Technologies (ACCIMT)• Received letter of thanks for ITU Activity
contributions to World Telecommunication Day• Masahito TANI assumes Presidency• RA-2000, WRC-2000 (Istanbul)• WTSA-2000 (Montreal)

2002 PP-02 (Marrakesh)

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[2003 – 2013]
Year

International Telecommunication Union(ITU)

The ITU Association of Japan• Kaoru KANAZAWA assumes Presidency

In bold: E vents for which ITU-AJ supported theJapanese Secretariat, or an exhibition.

• OS Forum started• WSIS Asia-Pacific Region Meeting (Tokyo)• APG03-5 (Tokyo)• RA-03, WRC-03 (Geneva)• ITU Telecom World 2003 (Geneva)• WSIS-03 (Geneva)＊First holding of World Telecommunication & Information Society Summit

2003
2003 APG03-5 (Tokyo)

2004• First “Kore de Wakaru ITU”, a guide book for ITU,issued• Hiroshi MATSUI assumes Presidency

2003 WSIS-03 (Geneva)

2003 WSIS Asia-PacificRegion Meeting (Tokyo)• ITU-T Director Houlin Zhao visits Japan, gives
special lectures• WTSA-04 (Florianopolis)• “Networking of rural community Information
infrastructure” group-training course organized onbehalf of JICA

• WSIS Thematic Meeting “Tokyo Ubiquitous Network Conference”• WSIS-05 (Tunis)

2005

2005 “Kore de Wakaru ITU”,guide book for ITU• “ITU Journal” first colored issue

2005 WSIS Thematic Meeting “Tokyo Ubiquitous Network Conference”• Follow-up seminarsstarted

2006
2006 PP-06 (Antalya)• PP-06 (Antalya)＊World Telecommunication & Information
Society Day (WTISD) established• ITU Telecom World (Hong Kong)＊First time held outside of Geneva• WTDC-06 (Doha)• IGF Meeting (Athens)2007• Dedicated member Web pages established• Kanichiro ARITOMI assumes Presidency• RA-07, WRC-07 (Geneva)

2008• Provided support for ITU Symposium on ICT andClimate Change (Kyoto)• Kaleidoscope (Geneva)＊First meeting• WTSA-08 (Johannesburg)

2009• Kiyoshi MORI assumes Presidency

2008 ITU Symposium on ICTand Climate Change (Kyoto)2008 WTSA-08(Johannesburg)• ITU Telecom World 2009 (Geneva)• WTPF-09• On-site seminars started• PP-10 (Guadalajara)＊Yasuhiko ITO selected as member of theRadio Regulations Board (RRB)• WTDC-10 (Hyderabad)2010
2010 WTDC-10 (Hyderabad)2011• Changes legal status to General IncorporatedFoundation• Seminars on Telecommunication Policy started• ITU Telecom World 2011 (Geneva)

2012• Yasuo SUZUKI assumes Presidency• Journal of the ITU Association of Japan editions
unified to Web edition• Moved to BN Gyoen Building, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo• Liaison Meetings for ITU Conference Informationstarted• WTSA-12 (Dubai)• RA-12, WRC-12 (Geneva)• ITU Telecom World 2012 (Dubai)• WCIT-12 (Dubai)• Michiaki OGASAWARA assumes Presidency• ITU-R International Meeting Experience
High-level seminars started• ITU-T International Meeting Experience
High-level seminars started• ITU Telecom World & Myanmar Information andCommunications Trends Study• ITU-T SG3 RG-AO (Tokyo)• ITU Kaleidoscope (Kyoto)• WP5D (Sapporo)• ITU Telecom World 2013 (Bangkok)• WTPF-13

2013
2013 WP5D (Sapporo)

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[2014 – 2021]
Year

International Telecommunication Union(ITU)

The ITU Association of Japan• Signed Memorandum of Understanding between
ITU-AJ and ITU-APT Foundation of India (IAFI)2014

In bold: E vents for which ITU-AJ supported theJapanese Secretariat, or an exhibition.

• WTDC-14 (Dubai)• WSIS+10 High-level Event 2014 (Geneva)• APT WDMC-5 (Tokyo)• ITU-T SG16 (Sapporo)• PP-14 (Busan)• ITU Telecom World 2014 (Doha)• Reviewed Seminars
of Telecommunication Policy, startedSeminars on ICT2014 PP-14 (Busan)

2015
2015 InternationalNegotiation “PerformativeSeminars” started

2015 World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Symposium (WTIS)(Hiroshima)• Seminars for International Negotiation Techniques
started• International Negotiation “Performative Seminars”
started• PRF-16 (Tokyo)• WTSA-16 (Yasmin Hammamet)• ITU Telecom World (Bangkok)• Seminars on International Standardization Strategic Business Utilization held2016• ITU 150th Anniversary year
• AWG-18 (Kyoto)• WSIS Forum 2015 (Geneva)• RA-15, WRC-15 (Geneva)• ITU Telecom World (Budapest)• WTIS-15 (Hiroshima, with 12-organizationexhibit)

2016 PRF-16 (Tokyo)

2017• Suppor ted 19 th International Space Radio
Monitoring Meeting (ISRMM-19)• ITU Telecom World (Busan)• WTDC-17 (Buenos Aires)• Toru FUKUOKA assumes Presidency• ITU Telecom World (Durban)• WP5D (Fukuoka, with 5-organization
exhibitions)• PP-18 (Dubai)＊Akira HASHIMOTO selected as memberof the Radio Regulations Board (RRB)

20182018 WP5D (Fukuoka)

2018 PP-18 (Dubai)• APG19-5 (Tokyo, with 8-organizationexhibitions)• ITU Telecom World (Budapest)• RA-19, WRC-19 (Sharm el-Sheikh)• Toshiyuki MINAMI
assumes Presidency

20192019 APG19-5 (Tokyo)

20202021

2019  ITU Telecom World(Budapest)

2019 WRC(Sharm el-Sheikh)• Telework begins (Since April)• World Telecommunication & Information Society
Day Ceremony postponed due to COVID-19
pandemic then held (May to October)• Tetsuo YAMAKAWA assumes Presidency• Supported the Beyond 5G Kick-of f Online
Symposium• Liaison Meeting for
ITU Conference Infor­
mation held online(including participants from Geneva,Bangkok, and Cali2020 WTISD Ceremony post­fornia)• Digital World (Hanoi) held online• WTSA-20 (Hyderabad) postponed• Supported Japan Platform for Driving DigitalDevelopment (JPD3) (online)• Supported MIC MRA International Workshop 2021
(online)• Held Ceremony celebrating 50 th Anniversary ofITU-AJ◆ Number of seminars held (as of Aug. 31, 2021): 2,117◆ Number of regular publications (as of Aug. 31,2021):• “International Telecommunications Union andJapan”: 232 issues• “ITU Study” 265 issues• “ITU Journal”: 368 issues (including its predecessor,“International Telecommunications Union andJapan,” 600 issues)• “New Breeze”: 131 issues• Digital World (Hanoi)(online)• WTDC-21 (Addis Ababa) postponed

poned, then held (May to October)＊1 Based on ITU internal survey data,etc.
＊2 Abbreviations
WARC: World Administrative Radio Conference
CCITT:Consultative Committee on International Telegraphy andTelephony
PP: Plenipotentiary Conference
CCIR: Consultative Committee on International RadioWTDC: World Telecommunication Development Conference
WATTC: World Administrative Telegraph and Telephone Conference
APP: Additional Plenipotentiary Conference
WTSC: World Telecommunication Standardization Conference
RA: Radiocommunication Assembly

WRC: World Radiocommunication Conference
WTPF: World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum
WTSA: World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly
APG: APT Conference Preparatory Group
WSIS: World Summit on the Information Society
IGF: Internet Governance Forum
WCIT: World Conference on International Telecommunications
APT WDMC: APT Workshop on Disaster Management/Communications
WTIS: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Symposium
PRF: APT Policy and Regulatory Forum
ISRMM: International Space Radio Monitoring Meeting

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